Detachable heel plate or cover



May 20, 1958 R. J. MARTIN DETACHABLE HEEL PLATE 0R COVER Filed Feb. 14, 1957 2 m J w e w R INVENTOR ATTORNEYS;

United States Patent DETACHABLE HEEL PLATE 0R COVER Robert J. Martin, Houston, Tex. Application February 14, 1957, Serial No. 640,157 3 Claims. 01. 36-72) This invention relates to a detachable heel plate or cover.

An object of this invention is to provide a detachable heel plate or cover which is adapted to engage about the heel of a shoe and also the rear portion of the outsole for holding the cover or plate on the heel in order that during the driving of a vehicle the heel will not become unduly worn by constant rocking or shifting of the shoe and the heel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a heel cover or plate which is of simple construction and may be readily mounted on and removed from heels of different sizes without the use of tools.

It is intended that the heel plate or cover be used only in a vehicle and when the driver is getting out of the vehicle the heel plate or cover is preferably removed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the rear of a shoe having a heel plate or cover mounted thereon constructed according to an embodiment of this invennon.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device removed from the heel.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device showing the device in partly open position for mounting on the heel of a shoe.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral designates generally a shoe which is provided with a heel 11 securedto the rear of an outsole 12.

In order to provide a means whereby the heel 11 may be protected against undue wear while the user is driving a vehicle, I have provided a heel plate or cover, as will be hereinafter described. A pair of complementary bottom plates 14 and 15 are disposed in edge abutting relation'when in applied position on a heel such as heel 11 and each bottom plate 14 and 15 is provided with substantially U-shaped side walls 16 and 17, respectively. The side walls 16 and 17 are adapted to substantially encompass the sides of the heel 11 and may be of a height substantially equal to or less than the height of the heel 11. The walls 16 and 17 are hingedly connected together by means of a hinge 18 disposed at the rear of the walls 16 and 17. A pair of extension members 19 and 20 are slidably disposed within the walls 16 and 17, and the extension members 19 and 20 are provided on their lower outer edges with outwardly projecting flanges 21 and 22, respectively. The side walls 16 and 17 are provided at their upper edges with inwardly projecting flanges 23 and 24 which are adapted in cooperation with flanges 21 and 22 to limit the extension of the walls 16 and 17 with respect to the walls 19 and 20. Preferably the flanges 21, 22, 23 and 24 frictionally engage the confronting faces of the walls 16, 17, 19 and 20, so that the extension members 19 and 20 will be frictionally held against ,vertical sliding movement relative to the walls 16 and 17. The rear ends of the walls 19 and 20 are hingedly connected together as by hinge means 25. Since the side walls 19 and 20 are slidable horizontally with respect to the walls 16 and 17 no binding is occasioned by the different vertical alignment of the hinges 18 and 25. The upper edges of the extension walls 19 and 20 are projected right-angularly and inwardly therefrom providing locking flanges 26 and 27, respectively. These flanges 26 and 27, as shown in Fig. 1, are adapted to engage over the upper side of projecting outsole 12 between the outsole and the heel member 28, as shown in Fig. 1. The extension walls 16 and 17 have projecting forwardly therefrom apertured lugs 29 and 30, respectively, and a spring or yieldable member 31 is mounted in the lugs 29 and 30 and is adapted to normally urge the heel sections comprising the bottom plates 14 and 15 toward each other. This spring or yieldable member 31 is adapted to be disposed at the front side or edge of the heel 11. The spring 31 thereby not only constantly urges the pivoted cover elements together, but also holds these cover elements against rearward sliding movement on the heel 11.

In the use of this heel plate or cover the device is opened from the front as shown in Fig. 3, so that the flanges 26 and 27 may be disposed on the upper side of the outsole 12 between the outsole 12 and the heel member 28. The cover members may then be released or if desired, may be manually pressed inwardly toward each other so that the flanges 26 and 27 will be snugly engaged between the outsole 12 and the heel member 28.

With a heel plate or cover as hereinbefore described, the normal heel on the shoe will be protected against undue wear when used by a driver and when the user gets out of the vehicle the plate or cover may be easily and quickly removed by spreading the cover elements apart after the manner shown in Fig. 3.

What is claimed is:

1. A removable heel plate adapted to be positioned over the heel of a shoe, comprising a pair of complementary bottom plates hingedly connected at one of their respective ends, the other ends of said plates being open to receive the heel of a shoe, extension members slidable within said complementary bottom plates for contact with the shoe heel over which the heel plate is positioned, and a coiled spring connected between the forward ends of said complementary bottom plates, biasing said plates towards each other in clamping relation around a shoe heel.

2. A removable heel plate adapted to be positioned over the heel of a shoe, comprising a pair of complementary bottom plates hingedly connected at one of their respective ends, the other ends of said plates being open to receive the heel of a shoe, extension members curved to conform to the curvature of said complementary bottom plates fitted within said bottom plates in frictional contact with the bottom plates, inwardly projecting flanges formed on said extension members adapted to fit over the outer sole of a shoe, and a coiled spring connected between the forward ends of said bottom plates biasing said plates and extension members towards each other in clamping relation around a shoe heel.

3. A removable heel plate adapted to be positioned 3 over the heel of a shoe, comprising a pair of complementary bottom plates hingedly connected at one of their respective ends, the other ends of said plates being open to receive the heel of a shoe, extension members mounted for adjustable sliding movement into and out of said bottom plates, the outer marginal edges of said extension members being disposed inwardly at right angles to the main portions of said extension members providing flanges adapted to fit over the upper edge of a shoe heel adjacent to the sole of said shoe, and a coiled spring connected between said bottom plates, biasing said bottom plates towards each other, said spring extending 4 across the open ends of said bottom plates for contact with the forward edge of the shoe heel on which the heel plate is positioned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,154,890 Sauer Sept. 28, 1915 1,450,396 Viertels Apr. 3, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,299 Great Britain Mar. 23 ,1905

256,094 Italy Dec. 7, 1927 

